Cigarette-case.



F. J. PALMER. CIGARETTE CASE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

new. or, 5

FREDERICK J. PALIIIER,

OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERICK J. PALMER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCigarette-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette cases, and relatesmore particularly to an improved'and novel type of locking means forsecuring the cover and bed portion of the case in locked position.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive caseof the type set forth, and one wherein the two members constituting thetop or lid and the body or box may be effectually secured in lockedposition, and wherein the two members may be moved to open and lockedposition by the use of but one hand.

Further and other objects will later appear and be set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette caseconstructed in accordance with this invention showing the two members inopen position, Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the members inclosed position, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing themembers in position to be opened, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section takenon line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Reference numeral 1 designates the complete case which is composed of abody part 3 and a lid 2 having a hinge connection therebetween, thehinge connection being constituted of member 5 which is rotatablymounted on a rod 7 extending throughout the length thereof, the rod 7being supported at its ends in bearings 6 secured to the rear side ofthe body 3, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. Likewise the lid 2 isprovided with a hinge member 8 which is mounted on a rod 9 the latterhaving its ends received in the bearings 10 rigidly secured at the rearside of the lid member 2.

The members 5 and 8 are, formed with the usual cut-out portions andextensions 11 and 12 respectively, which interfit in amanner shown inFig. 4, the hinge pintle 13 being passed through the two members asillustrated. Inasmuch as the rods 7 and 9 are rotatably mounted withrespect to the body 3 and lid 2 respectively, it will be obvious thatthe hinge members are movable from Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 17, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910. Serial No. 502,719.

the position indicated in Fig. 2, to that depicted in Fig. 3, wherebythe lid is possessed of a sliding movement with respect to the body.

For the purpose of exerting tension on the hinge members when in theclosed position shown in Fig. 2, to retain the members in such position,and for the further purpose of causing the members to assume openposition when said members are moved so as to bring the locking means toposition capable of being opened, there is provided a pair of springarms 14 and 15. Each of these arms is formed integral with a rearwardlyextending enlargement 17 which is perforated to receive pintle 13 onwhich it is loosely mounted. A sleeve 18 is mounted on pintle 13 so asto lie adjacent the enlargement 1? of the arm 15, the sleeve beingprovided with an opening 19 through which projects the free end of acoil spring 20 which latter is wound about the pintle 13 and has itssaid free end extending through a perforated portion 21 rigidly securedto the under or rear face of the arm 15. The spring 20 is coiled aboutpintle 13 so as to have a rigid relation thereto, whereby it will beobserved that the arm 15 will at all times have a tendency to move thelid 2 outwardly to the limit of its outward movement. Similarly the arm14 is equipped with the spring means just described in connection witharm 15, whereby the arm 14 will at all times exert pressure on the body3 in a manner identical with that just described in connection with thearm 15 and lid 2.

The means to retain the lid and body in closed position will now bedescribed.

The body 3 is provided with an inwardlyextending flange 22, which isdisposed along its front side and its two ends. Similarly lid 2 isprovided with a flange 23 which extends along its front side and its twoends, the two flanges being adapted to be seated one on the other whenthe parts are in closed position. Extending upwardly from the flange 22at each end of the box is an L- shape catch member 24 located at theinner side of the flange at the ends of the body 3. The flange 23 ateach end of the lid 2 is provided with a pair of spaced cut-out portions25 which form an inwardly projecting catch engaging ledge 27 thefunction of which is to engage the catch members 24 and hold the partsin locked position as shown in Fig. 2.

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It will be understood that the right angular top end of the catches 2%extends sufficient distance above the top face of the flange 22 to allowof the ledge 27 sliding freely therebeneath. It will be further obviousthat when the catch members 24: aline with the pair of cut-out portionslocated to the front of ledges 27 or the pair of cut-out portions to therear of ledges 27 the catches 2st being in alinement with either of saidpairs of cut-out portions and free of engagement with the ledges 27 willpermit of the parts being moved to the open position shown in F ig. 1.Thus by merely placing the box in one hand and imparting a slidingmovement to the parts 2 and 3 in either a rearward or forward direction,the catches 2 will be moved to a position where they are disengaged fromthe ledges 27, at which time the spring means above described, willenter into action and move the lid 2 and body 3 in opposite directionsin obvious manner.

The arms 15 if desired may be employed to retain the cigarettes inposition with respect to the body and the lid, as will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A containing case composed of a body and a lid, ahinge member composed of two leaves one pivotally connected to the bodyand the other pivotally connected to the lid, a pintle passing throughthefree ends of said leaves, a pair of spring arms rotatably mounted onsaid pintle, one of said arms engaging the body and the other arm thelid, a pair of Lshaped catch members carried by the body and arrangedone at each end thereof, and an inwardly extending flange carried by thelid and formed at each end of the lid with a pair of spaced cut-outportions each of a size to receive the catch members, said catch membersbeing designed to engage the ledge arranged in the space between thepairs of cut-out portions.

2. A containing case composed of a body and a lid each having inwardlyextending side flanges spaced from the bottom of the body and the top ofthe lid respectively, each of the flanges of the body having an L-shapedcatch member thereon, each of said flanges of the top being formed witha pair of spaced cut-out portions which form an inwardly projectingcatch engaging ledge, the catch member being receivable in either of thetwo cut-out portions of each of said pairs of cut-out portions wherebythe lid may be moved to open position by either forward or backwardsliding movement with respect to the body.

3. A containing case composed of a body and a lid having a hingedrelation thereto, and means whereby the body and lid may be locked, andmeans whereby the lid may be opened by sliding same either forward orbackward with respect to the body.

4. A containing case composed of a body and a lid, each formed withinwardly extending flanges at their sides, each of the flanges of thelid having a pair of spaced cut-out portions forming a ledgetherebetween, and means carried by the body and receivable in each ofthe cut-out portions of each pair of cut-out portions to engage theledges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK J PALMER.

lVitnesses:

ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

